“You seem at peace with it,” Celia explained. “I’m not saying you don’t care, but there is an acceptance in you that I cannot say I feel.”
Rosalinde hesitated and seemed to be searching for words. “Itisn’tacceptance. I would dearly love to know his name, to see his face, to ask him questions and to know if we ever had his love. But…but it’s different now. Since marrying Gray, my heart is more filled. It isn’t that the past doesn’t hurt, but I have more faith in the future. And I hope, when you marry Clairemont, that you will experience the same shift.”
Celia bit her lip, reminded that Clairemont hadn’t yet spoken to her of marriage despite their courtship, despite the physical intimacies they had shared. “So do I,” she whispered.
“Ladies?”
Both women turned as Gray entered the room. His face was somber, though he smiled as Rosalinde got up and came across the room to kiss his cheek. He took her hand and the two of them looked at Celia.
“You overheard,” Celia said.
He smiled slightly. “I did. A little. Enough. I want so much to give you and Rosalinde that information you seek.”
Rosalinde squeezed his hand. “And it sounds as though you’ll no longer need to do that search alone. Lord Clairemont knows and has offered to help.”
Gray’s eyes widened as he looked at Celia. “Yes?” Celia nodded. “I see. Well, with the two of us on the case, certainly we cannot fail.”
Celia couldn’t help but smile. He had faith. And she had to have it to. Both in Gray and Aiden’s ability to find her father,andin the fact that Aiden did care for her. One day it would blossom into more.
She was certain of it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Clairemont swung off his horse and checked his pocket watch. He was late. He was never late. However today, punctuality had been intruded upon by unwanted thoughts of Celia. Unwanted dreams of her that had kept him up last night, and the night before, and the night before.
It had been three days since he saw her last. He’d tried to distance himself from her, he’d even stopped writing her as he had been doing. But he was still obsessed with her and what she’d told him. With what he’d encountered when he confronted her grandfather. His mind was a jumble.
One he had to clear before he reached the top of the steps and entered Danford’s house. The gentleman had called him here to discuss business and Clairemont needed to be at the top of his game. Right now he wasn’t, when all he could think about is whether or not he would see Celia. And what he would say to her after a few days’ absence.
The door opened as he reached the top step, revealing Danford’s butler. Clairemont forced a smile so his fraud wouldn’t be as evident to everyone as it was to his own rotting heart.
“Good day, Greene,” he said.
“Your Grace.” Greene took his gloves. “Mr. Danford is expecting you and he—”
“Thank you, Greene,” Danford said as he came down the stairs and entered the parlor. “I’ve got him now.”
“Yes, my lord,” Greene said with a slight incline of his head. The butler left and Clairemont turned his false smile on Danford.
“Nice to see you, Mr. Danford.”
Danford clapped him on the back. “Seems like we’re to the point where you can just call me Gray. I’ve never much like being mistered, especially by family and friends.”
Clairemont stiffened. Were they becomingfriends? He had always actively avoided doing that. Stalwood was the closest thing he had to one.
“Certainly, if you don’t mind my dispensing with the formality,” Clairemont said.
Gray motioned him toward the hall. “I have a feeling soon enough wewillbe family. Might as well get a head start.”
Clairemont’s stomach turned, but he did not deny or confirm Gray’s words. “And where is Celia today?” he asked instead.
“Out with Rosalinde. They were saying something about bonnets, I blocked it out.” Gray laughed. “But I know they have every intention of coming home for tea, so if we hurry through this business, we can join them. Perhaps even take a ride around the park if you’ve time.”
Clairemont slowed his pace. What Gray was doing was folding him into the family. Accepting him as a brother would. And damn, but it felt good. Right.
But it was an illusion and he had more important matters to attend to. “What business is that?” he asked, trying to shift into spy mode.
Gray touched the handle of a door in the hallway and shifted to partially face him. “I’ve been thinking a great deal about what we discussed regarding the canal terminal in Witherhshank. I discovered that Perry was in town, so I arranged for him to join us today. Might as well discuss the concerns in person, yes? It’s always better that way.”
